NANO11 CHPTR3 -yup, peeking-

Twelve: Taurus and Pisces

Chapter three
Fate

Eta had just dished up breakfast to her guest, who had begun gulping down his food as if it were his last meal. She watched him in amusement, something about him just made her want to smile at him and shake her head constantly. He was a mess, really, the young man was lost; she didn't need a vision or any cards to see that. Just looking into his eyes told her everything she needed to know about him and then some. It was much the same thing she saw in her own eyes, as well as Antares', the craving for adventure, for something beyond the four walls that bound them and something more, something hidden beyond her sight. She forced her own impossible mind away, she shouldn't meddle in affairs that weren't her own, even though she wanted to.
"Mmph," the satisfied sound brought Eta back to the breakfast table. The young lord had stopped eating to catch his breath, it seemed, "I can't believe how good this all tastes," he sounded impressed. Smiling Eta passed him half a loaf of bread he'd been eyeing;
"It's all fresh produce, grown here in Ocean Valley or in the neighbouring areas," Bran stared at Eta for a moment. He seemed confused as he swallowed his latest mouth full.
"But what's the difference between the fresh produce we get in the city?" he asked. Eta sighed, it seemed those from the city didn't know quite as much as they thought they did.
"They may call it fresh but most of the food the cities import from the outer regions is a day or more old by the time it reaches your table," she explained slow. Bran's eyebrows raised at this and he looked back down at the food in front of him with more appreciation than he had before.
"Wow, I never knew that," he said softly. He looked back up at Eta, seeming grateful for the added knowledge before returning to his plate of fresh food. Eta smiled again, he was an unusual one, this Tau Bran. "How long was I asleep?" he laughed through mouth fulls. Eta stopped halfway through a bite and looked at him, of course, he didn't know. She hadn't even thought to tell him how bad a shape he'd been in when she'd arrived in the forest. Putting her fork back down Eta looked at Bran seriously.
"You've been unconscious for nearly a week, if I'd been but a few moments later I would not have been able to save you," Bran spluttered. Hitting his chest as he choked on his food from the shock of her words. Eta quickly got him a glass of water from a pitcher and handed it to him, watching Bran drain the glass in one breath.
"What do you mean, a nearly a week?! My father will think I'm dead!" he cried. Bran sank into his chair unhappily, but Eta was not swayed by his sudden mood swing.
"You must understand, that woman poisoned you badly with the blade on her whip, if I had not been there you would have died," Eta paused from her explanation as she picked up Bran's now empty plate and took it and her own over to the sink. "Even then, until two days ago I wasn't even sure you would survive, when I knew for certain I sent my friend Antares with a message to pass on to a courier. The courier then took the message to your father as quickly as he could, so I'm sure someone will be along to collect you quiet soon," Eta nodded to herself. She was proud of herself to stay so calm when a man's life had been in her hands, though she doubted Antares would have agreed at the time.
"Wait, you knew who I was before I introduced myself?" he asked suspiciously. Eta looked back at him in surprise and seeing the dark look on his face along with his arms folded across his chest, she had to laugh.
"I didn't actually know, I just figured that you were important, as you were riding in a carriage. The colours on the ruined flags around the crash site that had been on the carriage and the style of your clothes told me you were from Twin Peaks, in the mountain regions. So that's where I sent the courier, he had one of the flags with him so he could find the right estate to take the message to as well," she nodded to herself again. What she didn't mention was that it was Antares that had done most of the detective work while she was busy saving Bran's life. She reminded herself to thank him later, how she wasn't certain of; though he was sure to have an idea or two in that devious mind of his.
"Oh, well," Bran floundered, "sorry, I shouldn't have-" Eta held up a hand to stop him.
"It's fine, considering the circumstances you have every reason to be suspicious of strangers," she gave him a smile of encouragement before turning back to the dishes in her sink.
Bran was quiet for a time, seeming happy to watch her wash their dishes quietly. Normally, if it were anyone else, particularly Antares, she would have barked at him to give her a hand with them. Though with his status and relatively weak condition, not to mention his leg, she didn't say anything.
"You know," his cheeky sly tone had returned, "this place looks like the home of a witch or something," Eta smirked. She looked back at him with her own version of a sly grin plastered on her face, this was always the best part about meeting new people, scaring them.
"Maybe because I am one?" she replied with the same tone he'd used. Bran's eyebrows furrowed and his mouth turned downward in a small frown, he looked around the house again before returning his moss green gaze to Eta.
"You don't look like one," he pointed to her clothes. Eta looked down at herself and smiled to herself, the colours she wore were purposeful after all. She looked back at Bran and shrugged;
"That's what the villagers call me," she told him nonchalantly, "and the Templars and Priests," she added as an afterthought. That caught Bran's interest, he leaned forward slightly at the mention of the members of the church.
"So you must be the one the priest was talking about," he said grinning at her. Eta rolled her eyes, would those infernal men ever leave her alone?
"So they've taken to warning passers by about me now? Pisces forbid I have a peaceful day once and a while!" she thew up her hands now and returned to the sink. Muttering to herself darkly about all the things she'd like to do to the priests in the church.
"Pisces?" at the query Eta put a hand to her mouth in mortification. She looked back at Bran horrified at what she'd just said before a stranger, but he just seemed confused and almost interested. She coughed and looked away, unable to look him in the eye as she explained;
"The lady Pisces is the goddess of the seas, the church of Ophiuchus nearby was once a temple devoted to her," she told him softly. Bran said nothing and Eta did not turn around to see his reaction, instead opting to continue with her task.
"Oh, that's who the statues are of," Bran said after a moment of silence. Surprised Eta looked around, finding Bran looking quite thoughtfully up at the ceiling.
"Yes, it is," she said slowly. Bran smiled at her, poking his thumb outside;
"The priest wouldn't tell me who she was when I asked," he ginned, "even managed to scare him a little with my constant questioning, ran off without so much as a 'goodbye'," Eta snorted at this and rolled her eyes.
"Yes, they're not very good at answering questions up there," sighing she leaned against the counter and folded her damp hands in front of her. 
"Why don't they like you?" her lips thinned at this question. Looking down Eta thought for a moment on the best way to answer without it leading to more painful questions.
"It's a mutual thing, plus the villagers in the area all come to me for help rather than them at the church," before he could ask why Eta continued, "they call me a 'seer' because sometimes I get visions and I practice what they see as witchcraft," she shrugged.
"I see," Bran seemed to sense Eta's unwillingness to talk more on the issue. He asked no more questions about her relations with the Zodia church, much to her relief. "So, think you could explain how you came across that scene in the forest? And where that woman went?" Bran asked. Changing the subject entirely in hopes Eta's mood would lighten once more.
"Oh, that," she smiled softly and looked to the side, putting a finger to her cheek, "well..."

~

After her escape from the church Eta had ran along the road side for a ways, stopping only when her intuition told her to. Crouching in the bushes she witnessed a group of men walk by her; they had all carried long bows and black armbands. Eta had followed the men silently to an area on the road where she watched them set up for what she suspected to be an ambush. Though for what she'd had no idea, only that their target was hers as well.
Unfortunately Eta had been discovered by the woman in leather shortly after her men had finished setting up; the woman had had no idea who Eta was, but wasn't willing to take any chances. It took two of the woman's men to subdue her and even then Eta had struggled hard, kicking, punching and even biting both of them as they bound her arms and legs together. The woman had then stung Eta with her whip and left the girl to die, leaving the two men to watch the girl and make sure nothing went wrong.
The woman's first mistake had been leaving Eta next to a small stream, the other was leaving her alone with two idiots for guards. The first thing Eta done was pull a small line of water to her, covering her injured arm with a thin coat of the element. Then, using all of her concentration she'd finally managed to heal herself with the water, something she'd always had trouble with due to lack of need. That day however, the healing energies had flowed due to her immediate need of it. The sigh of relief as her vision returned to normal had alerted one of her guards, when he'd leaned over her to check if she was still alive Eta had kicked him in the groin as hard as she could while she used the water to loosen her bonds. With her hands freed Eta focused on getting the two men away from her; when the uninjured man tried to grab her again Eta threw a hand toward him, focusing the water behind her into a deadly whip-like form that threw the man into the brush behind him. Hearing the sickening crunch as he hit the ground Eta had closed her eyes for a moment, she'd not meant to kill him. Opening them again she found the man she'd kicked looming over her, crying out as she threw the water at him as she had his partner she watched as he too flew into the brush behind him. Fortunately there was no sickening crunch this time, and to Eta's relief he did not return. Removing the bonds around her ankles Eta had scrambled to her feet, she'd known she'd been too long and if she didn't hurry her target would be dead.
She had run then, almost losing her sandals more than once and tripping on a number of roots poking through the soil in her haste to get back to the clearing. She heard the scream of the horses dying, the men crying out as they were shot down one after another and the crashing sound of wood on wood. She could see the crash as he happened in her mind, her second sight almost showing her the scene in real time. But she was so far from the site, the water from the creek was rushing through the air behind her but keeping it there was draining her of the little energy she'd gained after it had healed her.

When she had arrived on the scene the woman was crouching down over a young man around Eta's age, the woman had obviously stung him with her whip as she had with Eta not half and hour before.
"Get away from him!" she cried out. Eta's arms stayed by her sides, her palms facing the sky and fingers outstretched. The water snaked around her, bending to her will easily now and the longer she held it to her the less it seemed to drain her. As though her body were getting used to it far quicker than it ever had.
The leather clad woman had stood, staring at Eta when she turned to face the girl.
"Impossible, you should be dead!" as she spoke the woman's whip unfurled, landing on the ground like a snake. She ran toward Eta swiftly, flicking the whip in her hand toward her with a flick of her wrist. Eta deflected the whip's deadly stinger with a flick of her own wrist, with the other she sent her own whip-like stream of water at the woman. The attack didn't connect however as the woman quickly flicked her whip at a nearby tree branch, swinging clear of the attack. Unable to stop her Eta watched as the woman slowly walked backward, away from the crash site. She tipped her head to Eta, seeming to consider the girl a worthy opponent for now, with that she was gone. Disappearing into the shadows of the forest, leaving her crazed cohort behind. The man was aiming at the dying youth; Eta glowered at the man, sending all of the water flowing around her toward him. She forced the water into his lungs, drowning him within moments. 
The initial threat to her target neutralised, Eta ran forward to make sure he was still alive. Cradling the young mans face in her small hands, she found he was barely conscious.
"It's all right now, your safe," she told him softly. With these words the young man's will gave out, falling into unconsciousness and allowing Eta to work more swiftly to save him.

~

"So what happened then? You dragged me back here on your own?" Bran asked with an eyebrow raised. Eta smiled mysteriously at him, he'd scoffed when she'd explained that she had driven the woman off with water she controlled.
"Not exactly, though I can't say I didn't try," she sat back down in her seat. Finishing with the dishes while telling him her tale, Eta was now happily sipping some tea she'd just made them.
"Then what? I'm dying, you're not strong enough to get me back yourself; so what happened?" he pushed. Eta looked out the window, smiling fondly at a pair of sunflowers swaying in the late morning breeze.
"Antares, he came out of nowhere and carried us both back here on his horse," she told Bran. When he frowned at her words she couldn't help but laugh, "Antares helped me get out of the church in time to help you," she explained. When his frown remained Eta sighed, "he's my best friend and one of the reasons you're still alive," hearing this seemed to put Bran at ease somewhat.
"And once back here, you what, healed me with your 'water magic'?" he asked. His eyebrow was raised sceptically again, Eta itched to show him exactly what 'water magic' looked like, but refrained. It wasn't his fault he didn't believe in the impossible, it was the usurper goddess he'd been raised to revere. Her miracles weren't exactly great in the big scheme of things, though the people that never left the cities or stuck to the highway when they did would never see what Ophiuchus' miracles really were.
"No, I used herbal medicine and potions to make you well again," Eta said flatly, "not to mention all the spells I chanted under the moon without any clothes on," she added to make her point. Bran had spluttered at the last part and turned crimson, forcing himself to look everywhere but at his host. Eta rolled her eyes and sighed, standing she walked over to a cupboard with compartments everywhere and began poking around in it. Muttering to herself as she did.
"What are you-" Bran began, but was interrupted with a loud 'AHA!' from the girl. Pulling out a small jar with mud coloured paste in it Eta walked back to the table, tossing it lightly at Bran.
"Here, you'll need this for your leg," she told him. He turned the little jar over in his hand, scrunching up his nose at the colour of the contents.
"Don't you have anything else?" he asked hopefully, "you know, that doesn't look like you've picked it up out of a bog?" Eta gave him a deadpan stare for a moment and then shrugged.
"Well I suppose not everyone likes the bog muck for wounds," she said as she put a finger to her cheek, "I could give you the eye of newt and bat-wing potion," she said thoughtfully, "though that might turn you into a mouse," she looked back at him with her own eyebrow raised. Bran put up his hands in surrender.
"Alright, I get it, you're not actually a witch and this isn't mud," he sighed. Holding up the jar to look at the brown paste within Bran winced, "just tell me I don't have to eat the stuff," at this Eta couldn't stop the wave of laughter that washed over her.
"No, you don't have to eat it!" she said through her giggles, "you just put it on the wound twice a day," Bran too joined in the laughter on hearing these instructions.
"Right, I knew that," he said once they'd both calmed down enough to continue the conversation. Eta shook her head at him in amusement, refraining again from saying something she shouldn't.

A knock at the door interrupted their amusing conversation and when Eta opened it she found an anxious looking Antares on the other side.
"Good, you're here," he said. Walking past Eta Antares entered her small home, when his eyes stopped on Bran sitting at the table. "And you're awake," he noted. His eyes thinned at the newcomer and Bran returned the look in kind.
"Where else would I be, Antares?" Eta asked. Distracting her friend from her guest before the two of them began exchanging blows, the way they were glaring at each other wasn't a good sign. Her ploy worked, Antares looked back at Eta quickly, his reason for appearing on her doorstep now returning.
"Nowhere! I mean, I just," he was floundering. Eta sighed and led him over to a chair and sat her friend down, sitting back in her own seat.
"What happened, Res?" she asked gently. Taking a deep breath Antares seemed to be forcing himself to ignore Bran now, Eta let it be, better they not acknowledge each other for now. At least until she got a straight answer from Res.
"There's a bunch of men looking for the house, I think they're this ones" he nodded at Bran now. Hearing this Bran's back straightened, he stood and walked over to the bed he'd been sleeping in. Putting his coat and boots on slowly, being careful of his injury and, Eta noticed, putting the little jar into his jacket pocket.
"Guess I should wait outside for them," he said awkwardly. Eta stood, walking over to Bran she straightened his jacket for him and then silently helped him to the door. She could feel Antares' eyes on her and almost feel the jealousy flowing out of him, but she ignored it for now. After all, it wasn't like Bran was sticking around or was going to come back. He was a lords son, heir to a house and she was a fortune teller. A very poor fortune teller at that.
Opening the door once more Eta and Bran found themselves face to face with a man in armour, wearing colours that matched Bran's own.
"My lord Bran!" he exclaimed. The man looked relieved and happy to see the young man alive, as were the men that had accompanied him, as they all cheered upon seeing the young lordling exit the small house.
"Lorent!" Bran shook hands with the man happily. Antares had followed Eta and Bran outside, he now placed a hand on Eta's shoulder, as if he were trying to show she was his. Stopping herself from shaking her head Eta took a step forward, freeing herself from his touch gently.
"You must be the young lady who sent the letter," Lorent said smiling at her. Eta returned the smile and nodded, holding out her hand to shake his.
"Yes, I came across the crash site and managed to scare off Lord Bran's attackers somehow," Eta explained. She noticed Bran frown slightly beside her, no doubt noting her use of 'lord' when talking about him, though he said nothing.
"Amazing," Lorent appeared impressed and shook Eta's hand gratefully, "you must truly be a miracle worker to bring Lord Bran back from the brink," he said putting his other hand over hers, "your letter spoke of poison?" Eta become suddenly very wary. She knew from past experience not to say to much of how she healed people, it was why she hadn't told Bran the truth after all.
"Yes, it was fast acting but as I'd been out picking wild herbs when I came across the scene I was able to stabilise Lord Bran at the scene so I could transport him here," Eta motioned to Antares behind them now, "if Antares hadn't been out riding in the area he would not have heard my cries for help, I'm quite certain I would not have been able to save him," Antares relaxed now. She hadn't forgotten him after all, and now he too scored a grateful handshake from Lorent.
"Thank you very much young man, you've done us a great service," Lorent seemed genuine in his words. This made Eta know she could trust the man to leave with Bran, not only that but she had a good feeling they would be able to return home to Twin Peaks without fear of another attack.
"It was no problem, Eta asked me to, so," Antares trailed off. He wasn't sure of what else he could say, though the grateful look Lorent was giving him made him smile proudly. Lorent looked back to Eta and fished a bag out of his coat, staring at the bag as though it were a viper Eta took a step back, but the man didn't notice.
"Now, Lord Tau has told me to make sure you are well rewarded for your service to the house," he was counting out some coins. Eta shook her head quickly and when he offered the money she quickly pushed it back toward the man firmly.
"I didn't help him for a reward, sir, I did it because it was the right thing to do," she told him gently. The man blinked, seeming surprised that she wanted no money for her trouble.
"But, young lady, surely-" Eta held up a hand. Surprisingly the man's mouth snapped shut, though he seemed uncertain now he was unable to complete part of his job here.
"It's fine master Lorent, like I said, I didn't do it for the money," Eta soothed the man's worries gently. Eventually he put the money back into the purse and gave it to Bran.
"Perhaps it's best that you take this then, Lord Bran," he said touching his nose and winking at the young man. Bran nodded and looked back at Antares behind him.
"Could I talk to you for a moment?" he asked. Antares seemed surprised at the request but nodded all the same, the two walked away from Eta a ways. With the backs to the girl so she couldn't see what they were speaking of. Eta frowned at them, Antares' body language slowly changed as Bran talked to him, until finally the two seemed to shake hands. Bran looked back at her slowly, flashing her a small smile before walking over to her and holding out a hand to her.
"It was an honour to meet you miss Eta, I don't think I'll ever be able to repay you," he said smiling at her. Eta took the hand offered but instead of shaking it as she'd expected, Bran instead brought her hand to his lips and gently kissed it. Eta felt her cheeks turn scarlet as she watched him, embarrassed she looked down at the ground before her. It was only when he released her hand that she realised he'd placed something small and round it in. Frowning she opened her hand to find a small gold disk sitting on her palm, looking back up at him in confusion she found him grinning slightly. "I found it in the church that day, I figured it's yours," he said shrugging at her confused look. Looking back down at the little gold disk Eta shook her head at him and took his hand, giving it back.
"To remember me by," she said with a shrug of her own. Bran grinned again and pocketed the disk carefully in the same pocket as the jar.
"Some how I doubt that will be hard," he said confidently. Antares coughed beside them, bringing them back to the present. Turning to look at the men waiting for him Bran sighed softly and began walking backward, away from Eta and Antares. He went to turn away but stopped and seeming to recall something he looked back at Eta, "you said you were asked to help me, who asked you?" Eta gave him her most mysterious smile she could give before answering his question.
"Fate," she said simply. He blinked and then grinned. Knowing he'd never get a straight answer now Bran turned to walk toward the waiting horse, climbing on in one swift movement. Eta waved at him as he and his men rode away from her little house and presumably out of her life. Leaving as quickly as he'd arrived, though perhaps not quite as dramatically.